An exhibition of approximately 75 photographs by celebrated photographer Keith Carter, focusing on the people and places of his native East Texas, opens Sept. 1 at the Beeville Art Museum, where it will remain until Dec. 31.

Carter lives and works in Beaumont, where he holds the Walles Chair of Art at Lamar University. His photographs are often described as dreamlike, enigmatic or mystical, and Carter explains that he finds inspiration in his surroundings, “…looking at where I live as an exotic land, almost an allegory.”

2009 was an especially good year for Carter. He was honored with two major awards for his achievements in the arts, including a Texas Medal of Arts from the Texas Cultural Trust Council and the “Artist of the Year” from the Art League of Houston.

Carter is also a past recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts regional survey grants and the Lange-Taylor Prize from the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University.

Carter’s work is included in numerous private and public collections including the Art Institute of Chicago, Smithsonian American Art Museum, J. Paul Getty Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the George Eastman House. He has appeared in solo and group exhibitions in the United States and abroad.

“Poet of the Ordinary: Photographs by Keith Carter” is a traveling exhibition from the Wittliff Collections at Texas State University in San Marcos, specifically the Southwestern & Mexican Photography Collection, a photo archive and exhibition space showcasing the works of 20th century masters of the medium.

The Beeville Art Museum is a teaching museum dedicated to the concept of art as a positive force in the development of creative skills and thought. The Joe Barnhart Foundation has created comprehensive educational programs at the Beeville Art Museum, including exhibitions of renowned artists and collections from museums, galleries and private collections from across the state, docent-conducted tours for students, lectures, and workshops.

The Beeville Art Museum, 401 E. Fannin St., is open to the public 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. To contact the museum, call 358-8615 or visit the website at www.BamTexas.org.